There are currently billions of interconnected devices communicating with each other over the internet. These devices are constantly gathering information about their environments, and analyzing the data to help make informed decisions or to automate actions. The Internet of Things (IoT) is made up of a wide-range of devices that can be used for various applications. The applications listed below are only a few of the many possibilities for these devices.

Smart Home

The concept of the smart home has generated a lot of attention for the IoT. Smart home devices can help automate your life at home to make everyday things more convenient. Smart outlets can automatically turn devices on/off, monitor power consumption, and create schedules for devices. Smart thermostats can adjust the temperature automatically, create schedules for the temperature at day and night, and can adjust the temperature when you are home or away. These are just a couple of the devices being designed to help improve the at-home experience.

Smart City

The possibilities for smart cities are endless. The IoT can be used to help manage traffic, monitor water distribution, manage energy usage, or even monitor the environment. The implementation of sensors within cities can help alleviate a lot of major problems that cities are facing, as well as help create more environmentally friendly cities.

Wearable Technology

Wearable technologies are able to collect information about the user. These technologies are equipped with sensors and software capable of monitoring your body for fitness or health purposes. Devices such as smart watches or smart glasses are currently very popular IoT wearable devices.

Energy Management

The IoT has become increasingly popular as a means for monitoring power grids. Smart grids collect information about electricity suppliers, as well as the behavior of consumers. This information is used to improve the efficiency of power grids and to help reduce energy usage. Additionally, these grids can detect power outages quickly, making it easier to get power back when it goes out.

Connected Vehicles

The use of interconnected devices in the automation industry is progressing more slowly in comparison to in the other industries listed above. However, many car manufacturers and other technology companies are working hard to develop smart cars and self-driving vehicles. This industry has a lot of potential for growth and will likely take large steps forward in the coming years.

These examples only scratch the surface in terms of the capabilities and other potential applications for the IoT. The ability to accurately monitor environments through these connected devices and networks holds a lot of value for many different types of applications. The amount of connect devices is growing more and more every year, which means there will be more innovative solutions coming in the near future.

Home automation has been on the rise as the cost of integrating wireless communication in devices has dropped significantly. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apple’s iCloud, and Google’s Cloud have given people the means to remotely monitor and control their homes. However, where does this leave Bluetooth in home automation and the Internet of Things (IoT)?

Bluetooth for Local Access

Bluetooth has not been a stranger to local automation with many devices that we control using it. From wireless speakers to LED light bulbs, many manufacturers provide smartphone apps to control their devices via Bluetooth. The newest Bluetooth specifications have incorporated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which has made smart, battery-powered devices more accessible without having to recharge or change the batteries on a frequent basis. This gives Bluetooth an edge over Wi-Fi, which is a more power hungry technology. Now, you can place home automation products anywhere without being restricted to power outlet locations. No more need for power strips and bulky power supplies when devices can run for months on a single battery. This is great for local home automation, but since Bluetooth cannot connect directly to the Internet, how can we access these devices remotely?

Smart Home Hubs for Remote Access

This is where we introduce the smart home hubs. Recently, the biggest players in IoT have been releasing voice-activated assistants for your home. Apple just announced HomePod which brings the voice control and intelligence of Siri to your home. This is to be compared to Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Google Home. All of these popular home assistants have two things in common: voice control and Bluetooth radios.

Through the appeal and convenience of a voice-controlled home assistant, these companies have placed a Bluetooth-to-Internet gateway in your home. These smart home hubs serve a dual purpose by providing the user with voice control as well as remote access to their Bluetooth smart home devices. Currently the Echo and Google Home can only be used to communicate with the devices already on the cloud with local Bluetooth devices currently needing their own proprietary solutions to relay information to these corresponding clouds. Apple, on the other hand, through the HomeKit protocol, has defined its own standard for IoT inter-device communication. As long as these devices are designed according to HomeKit specifications, a user can access the HomePod, an Apple TV, or an iPad left at home to control local Bluetooth devices remotely. Google Home, on the other hand, has taken the approach of communicating with other proprietary smart home products, but has not yet utilized a standard for smart home devices. Therefore you are limited to a number of specific manufactures if you want compatible smart home accessories.

With the use of in-demand smart home assistants and the wireless power saving advantages of BLE, Bluetooth has an edge over Wi-Fi when it comes to home automation and IoT. Devices can be designed smaller, with greater battery life, and installed virtually anywhere in the home. Imagine Bluetooth sensors for door locks, temperature, lights, windows, motion detection, leak detection, power outlets, blinds, and much more. Bluetooth devices are now accessible from your fingertips anywhere in the world and are truly the future of home automation.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is composed of an assortment of connected devices, but without cloud computing services, these devices wouldn’t have much more functionality than the standard household device. This is due to the fact that the cloud allows devices to outsource the analysis and storage of any data that is collected through their connected sensors. The cloud’s internet-based computing methods act as the brain for IoT devices, removing the boundaries of inter-device, memory and space constrictions.

The IoT is growing at an exponential rate, making cloud services more important than they have ever been before. In order for the cloud infrastructure to accommodate for the mass amount of data being stored and transferred within the cloud, it will need to be developed at a rate similar to IoT technology. The cloud was designed on the very basis of being able to store information remotely, making it the optimum environment for the interconnectivity of internet-enabled devices. If the IoT industry plans to succeed, it is critical that the significance of cloud services is unanimously recognized.

There are many benefits offered by the cloud that would enhance the world of smart technology. The ingenious decision to move the serious data processing functionality of these devices to the cloud has opened the door for further technological advancements. Using the cloud for big data storage and analytics has done two main things that have helped enable the accelerated development of IoT technology. The first thing it does is enable devices to be smaller and use less power, making them much easier to integrate within any home environment. The second is that it makes it possible to continuously update the firmware as needed, which removes the burden from consumers and allows devices to be used for longer periods of time.

The overall accessibility and user-friendliness of IoT devices can be accredited to the power of the cloud. Having devices that every consumer can deploy within their smart homes is definitely a positive for the IoT. That being said, the cloud is able to do so much more for smart technology than simply make it easier for consumers to use devices. Creating a network of devices is entirely dependent upon having a reliable method of communication. The implementation of cloud infrastructure in IoT devices enables the ability to utilize multiple devices in a single network, while communicating simultaneously. Once multiple devices are communicating within the same cloud, the information and data that is collected for individual devices can be accessed by all devices, thus establishing a more synchronized system.

This always available, web-based service is a perfect vehicle for helping the IoT thrive. Current cloud infrastructure isn’t quite large enough to support the expected rise in IoT devices over the next couple of years. That being said, more advanced cloud infrastructures are being developed to help compensate for the influx of connected technology. As the network of devices continue to grow, it will be crucial that the capabilities of the cloud are maintained as it is truly the only technology available that is equipped for storing and analyzing this much data.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been developed with a centralized communication model as an integral part of its infrastructure. The cloud acts as the centerpiece for IoT communication, allowing devices to communicate, store and process data, and connect through the internet. However, cloud technology will be unable to sustain the sheer amount of data that is being processed with the growing IoT. Blockchain technology can be used to create a more decentralized communication model, helping alleviate the discrepancies of privacy, communication, and scalability for the IoT.

Cloud technology is great for introducing the power and potential deployments of IoT. In a TechCrunch article, the issues of future cloud applications are captured perfectly when author Ben Dickson states, “cloud servers will remain a bottleneck and point of failure that can disrupt the entire network.” The issue is that IoT ecosystems are expanding at an unprecedented rate; the resources that need to be allocated for maintaining the cloud will not be enough to nurture the growth of this technology. The cloud may be the IoT solution at this point in its development, but the costs and demands of processing that much data will become a nuisance. There needs to be an improved system for handling the heavy traffic of smart technology.

Blockchain technology is the answer the IoT industry has been searching for. Blockchain is a Machine to Machine (M2M) communication platform that enables devices to act as nodes and communicate with each other, removing the stress of storing everything in a central server. This innovative technology can help track and monitor the vast quantities of connected deices, allowing for devices to be able to coordinate their transactions directly with other devices. This can help cut down on the expenses of maintaining the enormous cloud networks and data centers.

One way to further understand the blockchain approach is to examine common network topologies. Utilizing the cloud as the centerpiece for IoT infrastructure is essentially creating a star network configuration. This means that each devices is acting as a node that is connected to a central device. The nodes cannot communicate directly; they can only communicate through the central device. The issue with this is that if there is a single point of failure, particularly the central device, the entire network goes down. Blockchain technology enables the network to resemble more of a mesh network configuration. This essentially means that every node is connected to each other and can communicate without going through a central device. This does create some redundancy within a network, but it this could be a more reliable solution for the IoT.

Decentralizing the communication model of the IoT can be an important step in establishing a reliable network for devices to operate within. The security of the IoT would also be improved due to the fact that there is no central point the information has to go through, removing the possibility of data being intercepted at the central device. Even though this technology is very promising, it does not come without problems. Setting up these networks is much more complex than setting up one that runs through the cloud. Once these networks are setup, there comes the issue of creating them on a scale where billions of devices can communicate directly with each other. The future of this technology is unclear due to these roadblocks, but the potential ability to have a seamless network with M2M communication is ideal for the development of the IoT.

When examining the process of the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) within city environments, people often focus on the technical aspects. There are five main themes in order to successfully adopt IoT technology on a large scale. The five themes for an operational IoT include:

Leverage existing physical infrastructure

Engage the local data ecosystem (i.e., partner with local researchers or non-profits)

Employ a clear data management strategy

Address security and privacy concerns with transparency

Turn collected data into action

Despite the importance of the technical aspects of the IoT, it is also important to examine the non-technical aspects because it deals with the consumers that will actually be using the technology. One of the best ways to further advance technical products is by engaging with residents. This allows implementers to gather support for a projects as well as gain insight about how to make a project much more effective. Utilizing residents as a resource for developing the adoption of IoT technology should not be overlooked, regardless of how complex a project may seem. Residents can often provide new information or insight on things that haven’t been considered yet.

There are many ways to go about creating engagement efforts. One example is the Civic User Testing Group (CUTGroup), which is a group consisting of Chicago residents who are paid to test various civic websites and applications. These groups can be used as ways to engage with residents, which can lead to further development of any IoT projects. Civic engagement through groups such as the CUTGroup have allowed for technological improvements and should be seen as a tool rather than a hindrance.

In order for cities to capitalize on the future of the IoT, they will need to value the interaction between implementers and residents. Collecting feedback and information about how residents interact with technology is much more valuable than simply informing residents of how a technology works. This means that residents should not only be informed, but be able to interact with implementers and raise any questions or concerns they have. With technological growth in mind, the non-technical aspects of the IoT are just as important as the technical aspect.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is gaining a lot of traction as the importance of high-tech sensor modules are being focused on as an integral part of smart technology. The funding in these sensors have increased in a manner that is nearly three times larger than in the past decade. This means that more developers and consumers are realizing the limitless potential of sensors and what they mean for the IoT. A lot of devices currently have sensors, but if a device is able to actually act on the data collected through sensors, technology will be substantially more powerful and efficient.

North America is leading the push for sensor innovation, but the investment in other areas around the globe are still increasing in number. Companies like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, and IBM are investing billions of dollars in an effort to further develop sensor technology. It is clear that the future of the IoT is in the hands of sensor modules.

When it comes to the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity is crucial to keep in mind due to the fact that smart technology is completely reliant upon communication. There are various communication protocols and network infrastructures that can alter the way IoT technology is used as well as its level of operation.

Network topology is important to understand because it changes the way communication protocols are used. The main IoT network topologies consist of Point to Point (P2P), Star, Mesh, and Hybrid. P2P is a link between two endpoints that allow devices to communicate on a dedicated channel. Star network configurations include multiple nodes that connect to a central device; each node can’t directly communicate with each other, only through the central device. These networks are easy to setup but if the central device fails than the network will fail. Mesh networks consist of multiple nodes, each connecting to each other. This can be used for establishing consistent connection but there is a high amount of redundancy. Hybrid networks are simply combinations of different topologies, but they are often very complex and expensive to setup.

The different communication protocols can be utilized in an effort to maximize efficiency and optimize IoT technology for any environment. The common types of communication protocols include Wi-Fi, Thread, ZigBee, Bluetooth, RFID, and NFC.

Wi-Fi: This is an extremely common communication protocol that is essentially everywhere in our lives. Wi-Fi makes it extremely easy to add/remove devices, has a lot of range, and is able to penetrate walls and other obstacles. That being said, there is lower bandwidth due to the lack of wired connection, and Wi-Fi networks are not the most secure. It is perfect for saving power and having quick and efficient communication. Wi-Fi is a star-based network; the communication goes from various wireless nodes to the wireless access point (WAP).

Thread: Thread is a communication protocol that is very reliable, consumes minimum power, and enables machine to machine (M2M) communication. In fact, it was designed for the purpose of connected home applications. The Thread protocol can use three main device types including border routers, sleepy end devices, and routers/router-eligible end devices. It is primarily based on IP, making it extremely simple to connect with other IP-based networks. Unlike Wi-Fi, if a single point goes out, the whole network won’t go down; it supports a full mesh-based topology. It is also a very secure communication protocol. However, it is not very good for DIY consumer installation in homes due to its complexity.

ZigBee: ZigBee is very similar to Thread as it is created by an alliance of several companies in an effort to maximize home and industrial automation. It fulfils the requirements of a mesh network, but can support star and tree topologies as well. The three main devices defined in ZigBee protocol are different than Threads, they include ZigBee coordinator, router, and end device. It is essentially the same thing as Thread, but it does come with some additional features. ZigBee RF4CE was developed to be a universal remote for the smart home, and ZigBee Green Power is a mode that ensure extremely low power consumption. A downside of this protocol is the fact that it has short range and low data speeds.

Bluetooth: Bluetooth utilizes the 2.4GHz spectrum in the ISM band. It is an ad-hoc type of network, thus enabling M2M communications. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is the current type being used within the IoT world, but there are three different branches of Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth Classic is the traditional type of Bluetooth, which has a higher throughput and is primarily used for transmitting files. Bluetooth Smart is essentially the same thing as BLE. It transmits information and was developed for applications with low-duty cycles. It is also important to note that Bluetooth Smart cannot communicate with Bluetooth Classic. Bluetooth SmartReady is the last classification type; these devices are essentially the devices that act as hubs, such as computers and phones. This type of Bluetooth supports both Classic and Smart.

RFID: Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is used as a communication method for being able to identify and track various devices wirelessly. This is an extremely simple communication method that can be used for a wide range of applications. RFID tags are able to read and write information and can be either passive or active. If they are active, they have an on-board power source, giving them more range and the ability to search for a reader. Passive tags don’t have an internal power source but can be activated when touched against a reader. Readers are purely used for receiving information from tags.

NFC: Near-Field Communication (NFC) is a communication protocol similar to RFID, but there are several things that differentiate the two. NFC-enabled devices are able to communicate information from one device to another simply by tapping the two device together. This is particularly useful in smartphone technology because it reduces the amount of time and effort in connecting devices. NFC is an extremely short-range communication method, but it is probably the most power efficient protocol. NFC devices can either be the initiator (the device that starts the communication) or a target (the device that receives information from the initiator).

The IoT is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, making it more important than ever to understand the best applications of various communication protocols. Some of them are designed with the IoT in mind, while others are not. As the technology continues to grow, it is reasonable to expect more efficient uses of existing protocols in addition to more powerful, new protocols.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is composed of an assortment of connected devices, but without cloud computing services, these devices wouldn’t have much more functionality than the standard household device. This is because the cloud allows devices to outsource the analysis and storage of any data that is collected through their connected sensors. The cloud’s internet-based computing methods act as the brain for IoT devices, removing the boundaries of inter-device, memory and space constrictions.

The IoT is growing at an exponential rate, making cloud services more important than they have ever been before. In order for the cloud infrastructure to accommodate for the mass amount of data being stored and transferred within the cloud, it will need to be developed at a rate similar to IoT technology. The cloud was designed on the very basis of being able to store information remotely, making it the optimum environment for the interconnectivity of internet-enabled devices. If the IoT industry plans to succeed, it is critical that the significance of cloud services is recognized.

There are many benefits offered by the cloud that would enhance the world of smart technology. The ingenious decision to move the serious data processing functionality of these devices to the cloud has opened the door for further technological advancements. Using the cloud for big data storage and analytics has done two main things that have helped enable the accelerated development of IoT technology. The first thing it does is enable devices to be smaller and use less power, making them much easier to integrate within any home environment. The second is that it makes it possible to continuously update the firmware as needed, which removes the burden from consumers and allows devices to be used for longer periods of time.

The overall accessibility and user-friendliness of IoT devices can be accredited to the power of the cloud. Having devices that every consumer can deploy within their smart homes is definitely a positive for the IoT. That being said, the cloud is able to do so much more for smart technology than simply make it easier for consumers to use devices. Creating a network of devices is entirely dependent upon having a reliable method of communication. The implementation of cloud infrastructure in IoT devices enables the ability to utilize multiple devices in a single network, while communicating simultaneously. Once multiple devices are communicating within the same cloud, the information and data that is collected can be accessed by all devices, thus establishing a more synchronized system.

This always available, web-based service is a perfect vehicle for helping the IoT thrive. Current cloud infrastructure isn’t quite large enough to support the expected rise in IoT devices over the next couple of years. That being said, more advanced cloud infrastructures are being developed to help compensate for the influx of connected technology. As the network of devices continue to grow, it will be crucial that the capabilities of the cloud are maintained as it is truly the only technology available that is equipped for storing and analyzing all the data created by the IoT.

The human eye is a remarkable organ, but it lacks the ability to see some of the smaller particles in the world around us, such as germs, allergens, and other general pollutants. Water and air are two things that everyone interacts with on a daily basis, but how much do we really know about the quality of our air and water? Technological advancements with devices such as the Wynd, which can help consumers monitor air quality, and the Limpet, which assists users in monitoring water purity, have given peoplethe ability to be aware of the things they are exposed to in different environments.

Wynd: Encountering and breathing in various pollutants was once an inevitable part of consumer life. Most air purifiers are constricted to a home environment, leaving user’s vulnerable and unaware of unhealthy air outside of their home. The Wynd is a portable and small air purifier that is able to clean the air in the consumer’s personal space, ensuring clean air in any environment. This device is able to absorb ambient air, then diffuse the fresh, purified air into the user’s environment. The Wynd comes with a removable tracker that measures the different pollutants in the air, and notifies user’s if the air quality gets too bad. As more data is collected, the crowdsourced air quality map will help users avoid any areas where the air quality is hazardous. The air filter is able to get rid of almost any pollutant consumers may come across, and if the filter is worn out, the LED on the top of the device will notify the user and can even automatically order a new one.

Limpet: Whether it be lake water or ocean water, the purity of water is very difficult to tell from its appearance. The Limpet offers an affordable solution for monitoring any water that a consumer may encounter. This device attaches to anything that can go in the water, such as a boat or surfboard, and can tell the user how clean the water is. This is very beneficial for those who spend lots of time in the water because it will protect them from exposure to any hazardous conditions in the water around them. The Limpet is designed to protect the health of consumers, ensuring that every experience in the water is a good one.

These technologies are providing users with smart solutions for problems that once seemed unavoidable, simply because there was no convenient way of detecting these problems. Consumers are able to monitor and control their air quality and water purity with these cutting-edge devices, making it much easier to live a healthier life. These devices only compose a minute fraction of the Internet of Things (IoT), which means they are not alone in their capabilities to improve a consumer’s quality of life. The Wynd and Limpet are perfect examples of how the IoT is driven by innovation and creativity.

Many believed that the integration of technology and musical instruments reached its peak with the creation of instruments such as the electric guitar and keyboard, but the music world is continuing to embrace the power of technological innovation. Learning how to play an instrument has always been considered something that requires a lot of time to learn and perfect. The goal of infusing technology and musical instruments is to turn music into something that is much more accessible for users, making learning to play an instrument easier.

Technological advancements have increased the functionality of individual instruments. The ability to play multiple instruments with one device has created what is now called a multi-instrument. The Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 is a great example of a multi-instrument, as it allows musicians to tap the keys of a piano, strum a guitar, loop a beat, and more, all from a single instrument. This technology-based smart instrument can be connected to a smartphone, tablet, or computer to access different music apps. It is designed to optimize the experience of playing music by letting users create whatever they want with a powerful, portable, and simple device.

Even though this device is not the only electronic instrument on the market, it captures some of the benefits of having smart, connected instruments. The INSTRUMENT 1 comes with the Artiphon app to help customize the way music is played, making it possible to do something like play a piano by strumming it. This removes a lot of the boundaries placed on specific instruments due to their design. The sounds associated with traditional instruments can be altered and utilized in ways that have never been heard before. There are also digital strings that never break and allow for the instrument to be strummed as seamlessly as the real instrument.

This device is among the many that have begun to revolutionize the way music is played. Devices are not only becoming more powerful and customizable; they are becoming more user-friendly. Instruments are now very flexible in terms of the sound they can produce, making it easier for musicians to create the music they want. Technological instruments are easier to learn and are more connected with the ability to access a variety of different apps and social platforms. All of these new instruments are assisting in the democratization of music by making it accessible for everyone to develop their own unique sound.

Grid Connect Inc. is an ISO 9001:2015 company and has been a leader in the embedded and networking marketplace for more than 20 years. We manufacture many of the products we sell; therefore, we can customize these products to your exact specifications. We also distribute, stock, and support many complimentary products from other high quality manufacturers. Learn more about Grid Connect and the products and solutions we provide that are essential to bringing all of your projects to life.